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. 2021 Mar-Apr;23(2):53-58.
doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2020-005. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Vitamin D Levels and Visual System Measurements in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study

Justin R Abbatemarco, Robert J Fox, Hong Li, Robert A Bermel, Daniel Ontaneda

Vitamin D Levels and Visual System Measurements in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study

Justin R Abbatemarco et al. Int J MS Care. 2021 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its role in progressive MS has not been elucidated. The objective was to determine the correlation between vitamin D levels and visual parameters in primary progressive MS (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS).

Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) levels were obtained from the Secondary and Primary Progressive Ibudilast NeuroNEXT Trial in MS (SPRINT-MS). Visual function measurements and vitamin D associations were determined using the Pearson correlation and the generalized linear mixed model.

Results: The analysis included 258 patients (mean ± SD age of 55.6 ± 7.3 years, 52.7% female, and 52.3% PPMS). Mean vitamin D values were above sufficiency and were similar between PPMS and SPMS (P = .47 and P = .31). There was no association between 25(OH)D3 levels and any visual markers, including peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (Spearman r = -0.08), macular volume (r = -0.03), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (r = -0.07), and 2.5% low-contrast visual acuity test (r = -0.10). No statistically significant associations between vitamin D levels and visual system measurements were detected in the PPMS and SPMS subgroups.

Conclusions: Vitamin D levels were not associated with optical coherence tomography findings or low-contrast letter acuity in this group of patients with progressive MS.

Keywords: Low-contrast visual acuity; Multiple sclerosis (MS); Optical coherence tomography (OCT); Progressive multiple sclerosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosures: Dr Fox receives consulting fees from Actelion, Biogen, Celgene, EMD Serono, Genentech, Immunic, Novartis, and Teva; serves on advisory committees for Actelion, Biogen, Immunic, and Novartis; and has received clinical trial contract and research grant funding from Biogen and Novartis. Dr Bermel is a consultant for Biogen, Genzyme, Genentech, and Novartis; receives research support from Biogen, Genentech, and Novartis; and shares rights to intellectual property underlying the Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test, currently licensed to Qr8 Health and Biogen. Dr Ontaneda has received grant support from Genzyme, Genentech, and Novartis and consulting fees from Biogen, Genzyme, and Genentech. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Correlations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) levels and visual parameters RNFL, retinal nerve fiber layer; GCIPL, ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer; LCVA, low-contrast visual acuity; MV, macular volume.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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